Metals in neurobiology: Probing their chemistry and biology with molecular imaging

An overview on the transition metals in neurobiology which focuses on d-block metals zinc, iron, and copper to neurophysiology, aging, and neuropathology is presented. A review is also given on the progress in the development of molecular probes for visualizing zinc, iron, and copper ion pools. Small-molecule synthetic reagents that have been used or may be used to probe zinc, iron and copper in biological settings have also been discussed.